Pioneer Playhouse Continues Mardi Gras Valentine’s Tradition

Four years ago, Pioneer Playhouse began a tradition of merging Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras into a unique night of dinner, dancing and fundraising to help Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theatre continue its 68 year-old mission of bringing theatre arts to central Kentucky.

This year the 2017 Mardi Gras Valentine’s Bash will be held on Saturday, February 18th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. indoors at Pioneer Playhouse. Cost is $35 per person, and includes an authentic Cajun dinner featuring jambalaya, etoufee, red beans and rice, as well as smoked chicken and salad. A non-alcohic beverage and desert comes with the meal. A cash bar serving wine, beer, and spirits will be open to those twenty-one and older.

“It started as a one-off thing,” says Heather Henson, daughter of founder, Eben C. Henson, and current managing director of the historic theatre, “but it’s turned into a big, yearly event. It’s often cold, sometimes snowing! But we’re lucky that we’ve always had a good turn out. I think folks are ready to get out in the middle of February and have some fun…and we definitely have fun!”

A dance band is always the evening’s main entertainment, and this year Pioneer Playhouse is excited to bring in a group new to the event: Soul Revue, featuring local entertainer, Michael (Fly) Hughes.

“Soul Revue will be playing R&B and hits from the Motown era, which is always great to dance to,” Henson says. “They have a wonderfully full, soulful sound – they’re a large band — and I know our regulars will love listening and dancing to something different. Plus I believe Soul Revue will bring in some new faces as well.”

As per tradition, a silent auction will held during dinner from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Items this year include artwork by local artists such as EJ Waters, Alison Craig, Paul Muth and Judy Schaefer; tickets to local and regional attractions such as The Stephen Foster Story, West T. Hill, Shakertown, The Kentucky Horse Park; gift baskets from Wilderness Trail, Buffalo Trace, and Kentucky Soaps and Such; gift certificates to local restaurants such as Bluebird Café, Cue, and The Hub, plus much more.

“We always want to emphasize that even though this is a Valentine’s event, perfect for couples, it’s also a great way to get a group of friends together. We have a few big groups who’ve been gathering every year. They reserve a table together and just have a blast.”